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Hyphenation ofout-of-the-common

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

out-of-the-com-mon

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/aʊt ɒv ðə ˈkɒmən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable 'com' (ˈkɒmən).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

out/aʊt/

Open syllable, unstressed.

of/ɒv/

Open syllable, unstressed.

the/ðə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

com/kɒm/

Closed syllable, primary stressed.

mon/mən/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

out-(prefix)
+
mon(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: out-

Old English, indicates 'away from'

Root: mon

Latin *communis*, meaning 'common'

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not ordinary; unusual; remarkable.

Examples:

"His talent was truly out-of-the-common."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

out-of-sightout-of-sight

Similar prepositional phrase structure.

out-of-dateout-of-date

Similar prepositional phrase structure.

off-the-recordoff-the-re-cord

Similar prepositional phrase structure, differing syllable count due to word length.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant

Syllables typically end in vowels; a break occurs after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

Fixed expression; regional pronunciation variations may affect vowel sounds but not syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The phrase 'out-of-the-common' is divided into five syllables: out-of-the-com-mon. The primary stress falls on 'com'. It's a fixed expression functioning as an adjective, with morphemes originating from Old English and Latin.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "out-of-the-common" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced as /aʊt ɒv ðə ˈkɒmən/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: out-of-the-com-mon

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • out-: Prefix (Old English) - indicates 'away from' or 'exterior to'. Morphological function: adverbial particle.
  • of: Preposition (Old English) - expresses the relationship between parts. Morphological function: linking word.
  • the: Definite article (Old English) - specifies a particular noun. Morphological function: determiner.
  • com-: Prefix (Latin via Old French) - intensifier, meaning 'together' or 'completely'. Morphological function: adjective/adverb forming.
  • mon: Root (Latin communis) - meaning 'common', 'shared'. Morphological function: adjective base.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: com- (ˈkɒmən).

5. Phonetic Transcription: /aʊt ɒv ðə ˈkɒmən/

6. Edge Case Review: This is a compound phrase acting as a single lexical item. Syllabification follows standard English rules, but the hyphenation reflects the original written form.

7. Grammatical Role: This phrase functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not ordinary; unusual; remarkable.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable, unusual, rare, singular.
  • Antonyms: ordinary, common, typical, usual.
  • Examples: "His talent was truly out-of-the-common." "She had an out-of-the-common ability to connect with people."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • out-of-sight: out-of-sight - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second element.
  • out-of-date: out-of-date - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second element.
  • off-the-record: off-the-re-cord - Similar structure with a prepositional phrase, but with a three-syllable final element. The difference in syllable count is due to the length of the final word.

Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

  • out: /aʊt/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: None.
  • of: /ɒv/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: None.
  • the: /ðə/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Schwa reduction.
  • com: /kɒm/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Exception: None.
  • mon: /mən/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: None.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in vowels. When a vowel is followed by a consonant, a syllable break occurs.
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, unless they are easily separable based on pronunciation.

Special Considerations:

  • The phrase "out-of-the-common" is a fixed expression.
  • Regional variations in pronunciation (e.g., rhotic vs. non-rhotic accents) might affect the vowel sounds but not the syllable division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

  • Some speakers might pronounce "of" as /əv/ (schwa vowel). This doesn't change the syllable division.
  • In rhotic accents, the /r/ sound might be pronounced after the vowel in "common", but the syllable division remains the same.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.